Definitions
Define Patriots.
American colonists who supported independence from Great Britain.
What happened at the Battle of Lexington and Concord?
The British sent troops to Lexington and Concord to seize weapons. The British did not capture any weapons and were terrorized by the minutemen using guerilla tactics.
What happened at the Boston Tea Party?
The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Native Americans when they dumped 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor.
Where was George Washington from?
Virginia
Which American warned the Patriots the British were coming before the Battle of Lexington & Concord?
Paul Revere
Define Loyalists.
American colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution, opposing the Patriot movement for independence.
What happened at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
The Continental Army was protecting hills overlooking Boston that could be used for cannons. The British attacked these hills and lost many men gaining these hills. There was a lot close hand-to-hand combat.
Define Intolerable Acts.
Britain punished Boston with this Act. Britain forcibly closed the harbor, took away self-government, and sent in more troops to the colony.
What made the winter at Valley Forge so brutal?
Bitter cold, hunger, and disease killed around 2,000 soldiers by spring. There were no shoes, few blankets, and makeshift huts for shelter. Some soldiers had to eat firecake - a mixture of flour and water baked over ashes.
Why was the French alliance so beneficial to the Patriots?
The French can now send supplies and troops to the colonists.
Define Minutemen.
Colonial militia members who trained to be ready to fight at a minute's notice.
What happened at Fort Ticonderoga?
Define Stamp Act.
Britain taxed newspapers, legal documents, and even playing cards. They taxed anything involving paper.
Who was Friedrich von Steuben?
A Prussian military officer. He trained the Continental Army and the set standard of training for the American military.
Who won the French & Indian War? Name one thing that the colonists gained after the war.
British and colonists. The land in the Ohio River Valley was given to colonies, but they could not settle in it.
Define Guerilla Tactics.
A form of irregular warfare where small, mobile forces use unconventional strategies like ambushes, sabotage, and hit-and-run raids to wear down a larger, conventional army.
What happened at the Battle of Saratoga?
The British devised a plan to cut the colonies in half. However, one part of the army did not meet up with the other. This left half of the British army open to an ambush. The Continental Army destroyed this part of the British army. This convinced France to win the war.
Define Townshend Acts.
Taxes on imported goods such as glass, paper, paint, and tea.
Who was Marquis de Lafayette and why was he beneficial to the Continental Army?
A 19-year-old French nobleman who volunteered to fight for the United States. He encouraged morale through friendship and optimism. He used his influence to help convince France to send more troops and ships.
Name the three sections in the Declaration of Independence.
Preamble, List of Grievances, and Formal Declaration
Define Sons of Liberty.
Political organization that aimed to resist British taxation without representation and protect colonial rights through protests, boycotts, and violent actions.
What happened at the Battle of Yorktown?
The British were surrounded at Yorktown by the French and Americans on sea and land. The British were under siege for a month before they surrendered. This was the last major battle in the war.
What happened at the Boston Massacre?
Double Jeopardy! How many colonists were killed at the Boston Massacre?
Colonists were taunting and throwing objects at a group of soldiers, when the British soldiers fired back. These shots killed five colonists.
Calm under pressure, leading by example, inspiring hope, strategic thinking
What was the name of the two key locations that battles occurred in Saratoga?
Bemis Heights and Freeman's Farm.